Lexmark Helps Nab
Counterfeiters
Worldwide volume
of counterfeit consumables estimated at $1B
And you thought toner was boring. In the latest episode of an ongoing
cloak-and-dagger drama, printing and imaging vendor Lexmark is battling
counterfeit consumable supplies and packaging by helping law enforcement track
down people and companies suspected of marketing counterfeit Lexmark toner
cartridges.
Within the past few months, undercover raids in three states have led to one
arrest and the issuance of an arrest warrant for another suspect. The raids
seized more than 13,000 counterfeit Lexmark toner cartridge boxes in Florida,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania. A federal grand jury has issued indictments against
the two suspects for conspiracy to traffic in counterfeit goods or services, and
also charged one of them with trafficking in counterfeit goods or services,
which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison.
“Lexmark is dedicated to ensuring customer value through ongoing efforts to
identify, investigate and prosecute counterfeit operations,” says Paul Rooke,
Lexmark vice president and president of its Printing Solutions and Services
Division.
For the past several years, Lexmark has worked with law enforcement “to
preserve the quality of the printing experience involving genuine,
Lexmark-branded equipment,” according to a statement issued by the company. The
worldwide volume of counterfeit consumable supplies, including toner and inkjet
cartridges, is estimated at more than $1 billion annually.